After the World Cup failure, the debate is still focused on Hansi Flick and Oliver Bierhoff. But with which players can the way out of the crisis succeed? Nobody wants to stop yet.
With his red cap, Manuel Neuer looked like Santa Claus. When he sadly returned from Qatar at Munich Airport, his large sports bag with the number one did not contain the golden World Cup trophy or other gifts and valuables, but – symbolically speaking – many problems and question marks. And Thomas Müller called out to those waiting: “I’m fine”.
In view of the general mood in German football after the national team’s World Cup knockout, that should have been overly positive. And even if the focus is on the future of national coach Hansi Flick and the massively scolded DFB director Oliver Bierhoff, it is also a question of which players can be tackled in the future. The home EM is in 18 months.
After the home side’s early return from Qatar, the Müllers have important Advent talks to do. Thomas Müller will ask his wife Lisa to listen carefully and give her opinion. It is a matter of great football importance. Under the spell of emotions, Müller gave a kind of farewell speech to the fans after the useless 4-2 win against Costa Rica. “I did it with love. You can be sure of that. And I have to see everything else first,” said Müller in the Al-Khour stadium.
Müller’s withdrawal would not come as a surprise
Team senior Neuer would like to continue in the national jersey if he “is invited and the performance is right,” as he noted. The Bayern professional, who has become the record goalkeeper for the World Cup, would then be 38 years old at the home European Championship in summer 2024. Whether Neuer continues after more than 13 years and 117 international matches certainly also depends on whether Flick is allowed to continue at all after the announced crisis meeting with DFB boss Neuendorf.
A new national coach could rely on a consistent fresh start. Flick used a total of 20 of the 26 available squad players in the three group games against Japan (1-2), Spain (1-1) and Costa Rica. The DFB head coach, whether his name is Flick or Mr. X, does not lack construction sites, at least not when the first friendly games towards the home tournament are due in March (opponents and venues open). This is illustrated by an overview of individual team parts and personal details.
Goalkeeper:
An end to Neuer’s (36) DFB career would be a turning point. But the successors are ready. Marc-André ter Stegen (30) and Kevin Trapp (32) have international format. Ter Stegen could slip out of the role of eternal crown prince. At home, he would be 32 – just a year older than Oliver Kahn when he made his tournament debut in 2000. The problem: Due to Neuer’s long supremacy, there is no goalkeeper under 30 who has already played an international match. Alexander Nübel (26) is waiting for his chance in Monaco.
Full-back:
The problem area. On the right, Flick used four different players in three games in Qatar. No solution was perfect. On the left, David Raum (24) played almost 270 minutes – also due to a lack of alternatives. At the highest level, Germany is hardly competitive on either side. Flick also clearly addressed this after the World Cup.
Central defender:
Antonio Rüdiger (29) and Niklas Süle (27) were too far from their best. But you will remain the first choice. The reliable Matthias Ginter from Freiburg, young enough at 28, played very briefly for the first time in his third World Cup. But Flick doesn’t really rely on him. Nico Schlotterbeck (23) still needs years of training in Dortmund. In Armel Bella Kotchap (20) there was a promising talent as a World Cup apprentice. The calls for Mats Hummels (32) should now be football history despite the failure.
Midfield defensive:
Flick could not decide on two candidates between Joshua Kimmich (27), Leon Goretzka (27) and Ilkay Gündogan (32). A World Cup conflict that could be resolved later if Gündogan ended his DFB career uncrowned. Kimmich and Goretzka, as the leaders of the hapless 95/96 vintage, now have to take on even more responsibility. The Bayern duo no longer has many tournament chances.
Midfield offensive:
The Eldorado – and in Jamal Musiala (19) a dribbling king with world star potential. In addition, a similar type of player comes back in Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (19) after a serious knee injury. Leroy Sané (26) and Serge Gnabry (27) belong to the required year of Kimmich and Goretzka. At 23, Havertz is a young yet experienced option. The lightning fast Karim Adeyemi (20) was allowed to watch a bit in Qatar.
center forward:
It still exists, the number 9. The name is Niclas Füllkrug (29). The Bremen native has chances of continuing his DFB career as a late recruit. And World Cup spectator Timo Werner (26) will come back after his ankle injury. After the preliminary round, Flick spoke of the lack of strikers in Germany. After all, Youssoufa Moukoko (18) is a promise.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
